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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that construction is underway at the UTRGV Tennis Complex, the new home of the UTRGV men’s and women’s tennis programs that is set to be completed in early 2027.
 
The UTRGV Tennis Complex is part of nearly $200 million in construction, renovations, and enhancements impacting all 18 UTRGV sports programs across 13 capital projects that are in progress or have been completed since 2021.
 
“This facility is another very important step in the transformation of UTRGV Athletics,” UTRGV Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “We are building homes that reflect our commitment to our student-athletes and the future of our programs. The UTRGV Tennis Complex will provide our men’s and women’s tennis teams with new opportunities to train and compete while creating a better experience for the fans and families who support them.”
 
The new UTRGV Tennis Complex will feature eight courts, collectively named the Orville I. Cox Courts in honor of Orville I. Cox, former president of the Pan American College Board of Regents and a UTRGV Athletics Hall of Honor inductee.
 
The complex will house the most courts that UTRGV has ever had on campus, a new equipment room, new restrooms, and seating for approximately 500 fans, a capacity increase of about 200 from the Vaqueros’ current tennis center. It will also include the adjacent, newly renovated UTRGV Pavilion, which was originally completed in 2024.
 
Six competition courts will be placed in a 2×3 grid with bleacher seating running along the sideline of three of the courts. Lower fencing across the playing surface will provide improved sightlines for fans.
 
Two additional courts will be located behind the fan seating and will provide dedicated space for warmups and practices while also allowing for tournament-style competition. All courts will have lights and feature a vibrant orange playing area with a contrasting gray surrounding area to reflect the UTRGV school colors.
 
“We are really excited to have a new home for our tennis program and our student-athletes. This will make a big impact on their college experience and provide a great environment to train and compete for many years to come,” UTRGV Head Women’s Tennis Coach West Nott said. “The facility will provide great value when it comes to hosting teams, competitions, and local community events.  In addition, this will be a strong signal to retain and attract future talent and coaches to maximize the potential of our tennis programs. We are extremely grateful to be in this position, and we can’t wait to hit the first tennis in the new facility.”
 
A dedicated walkway south of the UTRGV Tennis Complex will lead to the 10,200-square-foot UTRGV Pavilion, which will become the permanent home of the men’s and women’s tennis programs. The pavilion, originally built as a temporary home for football, will be renovated to include new locker rooms, coaches’ offices, and an equipment room for the tennis programs.
 
The pavilion is already home to a weight room and sports medicine training room that will be utilized by multiple programs.
 
“We are so excited to have our new facility and continue to honor Orville Cox at the new home of the Vaqueros,” UTRGV Head Men’s Tennis Coach Nathan Robinson said. “Adding locker rooms and showers (with the UTRGV Pavilion) which allows our guys to practice, shower, prepare for class, hang out as a group, and a place for them truly call home is exciting. This complex will help us continue our growth as we focus on becoming the top team in the Southland Conference.”
 
Naming opportunities are available throughout the UTRGV Tennis Complex. Those interested in supporting UTRGV Athletics and learning more about available naming opportunities can fill out the Giving Interest Form. For more information, fans can also reach out to UTRGV Chief of Staff/Associate Athletic Director for Development Eddie Galvan at 956-665-3415 or eduardo.galvan02@utrgv.edu.
 
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